By Jon Lonardo, VOICE vendor

Before I was homeless, I was narrow-minded in a way. There were some people I never would have given the time of day to. After I was homeless, I began to see people in a different light. When I travel around town, I like to help people find information they need. If I meet someone who needs help getting an ID, food stamps, or Medicaid, I tell them where to go.

By Ann Bitela, VOICE vendor

I volunteer at Goodwill. I have to volunteer 23 hours per month for my benefits (specifically food stamps). I am in workforce, which helps in preparing you to look for a job. I have to take part in workforce to receive food stamps, and workforce requires me to either work or volunteer a certain number of hours.

 

What is the single biggest obstacle preventing you from finding a job or housing?

Standing at just under five feet tall with a petite frame, Denver VOICE vendor Penny Sandoval is noticeably adorable. One would be hard pressed to find a person as sweet and naturally pleasant as Penny. 

What brought you to Denver, and why did you decide to stay here after becoming homeless?

 

When the new affordable housing facility The Meadows at Dunkirk opened in January, building managers and officials at the Aurora housing complex weren’t prepared for the rush of eager potential renters it would bring. Hopeful applicants waited out an entire night in a line that, by morning, spanned hundreds of people long. But in the end, many were turned away. 

 

Though Denver’s rent market may be showing early signs of a cool down, average rent in the Mile High City remains unaffordable for many. 

I would like to dedicate this to Ms. Wilma Fisher at the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. She epitomizes the essence of mercy, not only through her profession, but also through her gestures and words. She inspires hope in all of those she serves.